“Yes, sir.”
Elijah lifted his hand high above his head. “To Mr. and Mrs. Milton Waters. May you always be as happy as you are today, and may God always be a part of your life.”
The guests took a sip of their cider.
Then Walter Waters rose to his feet. “Like Elijah, I would like to welcome Deborah into our family. And to say, like everyone has already said today, keep the Lord at the center of everything you do, and you will have many years of happiness.” When he raised his glass, the guests sipped again.
Then waiters dressed in colorful flowered shirts and tan shorts began to serve the six-course dinner, beginning with pineapple soup. Before eating, Deborah and Triage walked from table to table, chatting with their guests.
When it was time for the couple’s first dance, Lavelle took the stage.
“Deborah and Triage asked me to sing the song for their first dance as husband and wife. They told me to keep it a surprise, and I’m glad I did, because I changed my mind. I’d like to sing the duet that Deborah and I have sung so many times.”
Everyone clapped.
“Deborah and I sang this onstage and on her album, but I always knew that she wasn’t singing to me—she was singing to the Lord. But what’s great about this song is that I think it epitomizes Triage and Deborah’s relationship too. Since Deborah moved to Los Angeles, they’ve been inseparable, even when they were ‘just friends.’ That’s what they told everyone, but we all knew what was happening between them—a very precious love was brewing.
“The best part was that they were friends first, and that’s how it should always be. So I dedicate this song to two people who mean so much to me.” Lavelle picked up the microphone. “But there is one thing—a duet needs a partner.” He stretched out his hand, and Vianca came onto the stage.
Her smile was so bright that Deborah couldn’t help but smile too.
As the music began playing, Lavelle said, “Enjoy.”
The guests applauded as Triage took Deborah’s hand and led her to the center of the dance floor. But the room could have been silent, and they could have been alone, for in that moment, all Deborah saw was the man she had married. And while she had been able to contain herself all through the ceremony, now she felt the first tear stream down her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” Triage asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just happy.”
He chuckled and pulled her close. “You are no happier than I am. This is the best day of my life.”
Minutes later, Elijah and Virginia, then Triage’s parents, joined them. Before the song was over, the entire dance floor was filled.
Deborah waltzed through the throwing of the bouquet and garter, speeches of good wishes from family, and even the traditional glass-clicking that begged the couple to kiss.
At seven, Deborah and Triage rushed to their rooms to change and pack for the short flight to Maui, where they would be spending their three-week honeymoon.
The limousine was already waiting as the guests filled the hotel lobby to wish them well. Deborah hugged her parents, and then Triage pulled her into the car as they were sprinkled with rose petals.
On the private plane, they sipped sparkling cider and cuddled. When they landed twenty minutes later, another car was waiting to take them to the Carlton on Maui. They were whisked to the hotel, then whizzed through the lobby to their suite. As they rode up in the private elevator that would take them to the penthouse, Triage kissed Deborah.
“I’ve been looking forward to this night for a long time.”
She ran her hands along the muscles in his back and took in his scent. “Me too.”
Deborah took a final look at herself in the bathroom mirror. She straightened the thin straps of her silk nightgown, took a deep breath, then turned out the light.
She slipped into the bedroom and was greeted by the flicker of candlelight. Her eyes moved to the king-size bed where Triage was raised up on his elbow. He was naked to the waist.
He lifted his hand, reaching for her to come to him, and slowly she moved forward, struggling to hide her nervousness.
Triage took her hand as she got to the bed and gently pulled her down. When she lay back, she pulled the covers to her chin.
He ran a finger along her cheek. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, baby. I promise.”
She nodded. “It’s not that I’m afraid.” Her voice trembled. “It’s just that we’ve waited. . . .”
He kissed her hand. “I’m so glad that we waited,” he whispered. He slid his finger under one of the straps of her nightgown and pulled it from her shoulder. “Are you going to take this off ?”
She smiled. “I thought you’d like it.”
“It’s beautiful—”
“But right now, you’d rather see it on the floor,” she teased. Then she stood, and let the gown slide from her body. It was her husband’s sharp intake of breath that finally made her relax.
When he took her hands and pulled her onto the bed, Deborah fell into his kisses. And she knew this was where she was supposed to be.
They were still awake hours later, and Deborah leaned back into Triage’s arms. He squeezed her to his chest.
“I just want you to agree to one thing,” Triage said softly.
“What’s that?”
“If you get pregnant tonight, I want to name the baby Hallelujah!”
She laughed and lifted his hands to her lips. “So are you saying that I was okay?”
“Okay is not quite the word I would use to describe what happened with us tonight.” He rolled onto his stomach and looked into her eyes. “You were so right; you were worth the wait. And we would have never had the chance for a night like this if you didn’t stand by what you believe.” He took her hands into his, and kissed them. “Thank you for this.”
He turned over and pulled her back into his arms.
“When I saw you singing in the choir that Sunday, I had no idea it would lead to this night.”
“You had no idea? Imagine me, just a country girl with big dreams, meeting this big-time superstar. Now here we are . . . in bed together, and you won’t let me sleep.”
He laughed. “Oh, you’re blaming this on me. I’ve been trying to sleep for hours.”
She turned onto her stomach and kissed him. “Okay, you can go to sleep now, if you want to.”
But as she moved away, he pulled her back to his chest. “Where do you think you’re going?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know . . . if you’re going to sleep, I’ll have to find something else to do.”
He grinned. “You know, I’m not that sleepy after all.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah,” he said, and turned her onto her back. “And there are still a few more things I want to show you.”
“Oh, really? Well, show me, Mr. Waters.”
“I will, Mrs. Waters.”
Singsation Page 26
